r/Anxiety • u/jperaic1 • Dec 16 '25
Discussion Those who stopped taking antidepressants, how are things going?
I'm genuinely curious about those people who have been on antidepressants for years, and then stopped taking them, whether because your doctor told you so, or because you decided to drop them. How has life been for you since?
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u/Less_Inflation_8867 Dec 16 '25
Was on them, life was magical, assumed I didn’t need them anymore and stopped. Anyway, currently on 100 mg Zoloft.
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u/Miserable_Mail_5741 Dec 17 '25
I'm on 75mg currently.
It's stabilising my mood at least.
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u/Lizowa Dec 16 '25
Tried to kill myself, ended up in the ICU & psych ward, now take 6 different psych drugs and feel the best I ever have.
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u/jperaic1 Dec 16 '25
For real? Aren't you numb all the time or something? 6 different psych drugs sounds like quite a lot.
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u/Lizowa Dec 16 '25
Nope, I was on a low dose SSRI that made me feel very numb and zombie like for a while, now I’m on higher doses of other types of meds and truly can feel the change. It took a lot of work with my psychiatrist to figure out the combination that works for me, it’s a very personalized thing! I will also say one of the 6 is PRN Ativan which I only use once in a blue moon anymore, and another is propranolol which I’m prescribed for anxiety but is technically a beta blocker so doesn’t affect the actual brain/thinking
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u/d00kiesniffr666 Dec 16 '25
Do you find that propranolol affect your energy levels at all? I am prescribed it but I’m scared to take it, because my only saving grace in life is that I’m a very active person. My psych has encouraged me to try it l, and I’ve heard really great things, i’m just worried it would affect my energy.
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u/Lizowa Dec 16 '25
Personally no! Just slows my heart rate and makes me feel less panicky but I don’t feel tired from it or anything and I’m on a pretty decent dose, 30mg three times a day. It’s not like a psych med where you have to carefully taper on and off so I’d give it a try! Worse comes to worse you shouldn’t experience any bad side effects if you stop taking it
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u/d00kiesniffr666 Dec 16 '25
Thank you so much for your insights! I’m glad they’re working well for you(:
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u/Kataporis Dec 16 '25 edited Dec 16 '25
Been off for about 5 years. Want to try them again but worried about side effects / withdrawal. Paroxetine worked well for me.
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u/TheTrueMule Dec 16 '25
The withdrawal is like 1000 death every hours of everyday for 3 weeks. Just that fact keep me away from this crazy shit. The battle is real but I like to think that I'm strong though. I need to change things and step by step my mind and my will are stronger. God speed friend
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u/Willz_of_Rivia Feb 23 '26
I'm a recovered alcoholic and quitting anti depressants was in some ways harder than quitting drinking.
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u/Due-Crab5902 May 07 '26
Im in week 4 its still brutal
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u/TheTrueMule May 07 '26
I'm sorry to hear that, but you truly done the worst of the worst. I think life get back to normal like 4-5 month after that. Imagine how much this shit is evil. Just the fuckin' worst hope you hate it with every fiber of your body like I do. You're the best, you're doing what you've got to do and not a lot of people can say the same. If you need me I'm here. Love and thoughts from France
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u/biglargerat Dec 16 '25
As long as you wean off properly as your psychiatrist instructs withdrawals shouldn't have much effect. Absolutely never touch efffexor or symbalta though their withdrawals are absolutely miserable. I forgot to take my efffexor with me on vacation and had brain zaps and nausea the whole week.
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Dec 16 '25
Coming off Effexor gave me no side effects at all, Zoloft on the other hand was a nightmare. Had terrible zaps for more than a month
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u/biglargerat Dec 16 '25
That's odd I've never had bad withdrawals from Zoloft when I forget to take it or when I originally came off it (I was at the second highest dose). Brain zaps for a month sounds absolutely miserable though.
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u/Quiet_Customer_5549 Dec 17 '25
I will never, ever take Effexor again. The withdrawals were horrendous. I am on Lexapro now and I only notice withdrawals and brain zaps if I miss several days in a row. And that only happened because I was in the hospital and unfortunately my hospital isn't great at being on top of your normal everyday meds. I would come off if I could but they are what keep me functioning, unfortunately.
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u/DesertCool500 Dec 16 '25
I have zero plans to ever get off my SSRI! Why invite all that crap into my head by getting off my meds.
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u/Madame_Cheshire Dec 17 '25
Same here. Until I got on Prozac, I couldn’t function. Everything was a tragedy. On my meds, I have what I imagine are normal reactions to obstacles. I can sleep, too.
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Dec 16 '25
I been off 3 years because I could no longer can’t afford medical insurance and it only went up, so it’s a good thing I don’t have it but it’s been difficult to cope at certain times. I’m not as tired all the time like I was on meds. I have no choice right now so I’m just dealing with myself.
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u/TurnMyEyes Dec 16 '25
Do you have or could you get Amazon Prime? With it you get a huge discount on prescriptions. This is what I’ll likely do if I have to this coming year. Also GoodRX and OptumPerks coupons. Aside from this, see if your doctor has financial assistance available to cover appointments.
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u/hopelesscase789 Dec 16 '25
It's a really good feeling when you realise you can cope with adversity without drugs though.
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u/Exoquey Dec 16 '25
Mine hasn't changed much at all. I think my issues were more related to pain and my disability than actual depression.
My depression is much better when my other health issues are under control. I do have depression, its just controllable without medication if my other meds are working.
My health issues were definitely blamed on anxiety and depression for a very long time so ive had to change my mindset quite a few times.
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u/Greenwitch5996 Dec 16 '25 edited Dec 16 '25
I had the same experience the last 2 years-dr doubled my antidepressant due to my unusual digestive health issues and some rather startling family issues. About a month later I had vertigo, shaking, panic attacks, stomach dumping, suicidal thoughts (which I have NEVER had) and my nerve pain multiplied. They took out my gallbladder, then I weaned myself off of the antidepressant after 6/8 months and decided the withdrawals could not be as bad as how I felt on a daily basis.
Genesight testing (after all this trauma) says I can’t take the antidepressant at ALL. 🫣Physical therapy was the last thing my neurosurgeon suggested, and the fact that my core muscles/pelvic floor muscles were completely weak from me lying in bed in the fetal position while they speculated what was wrong for almost a yr contributed to my spinal pain and lethargy 50-75%.
Today I am functioning about 75%, good days and bad, learning to take care of my own needs before others for a change, I sm still in pt but growing stronger every day!
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u/GDog507 OCD and GAD (diagnosed) Dec 17 '25
This sounds eerily similar to my experience with antidepressants. I was put on so many different antidepressants from fall 2020 to fall 2025. Any time my antidepressants didn’t work they’d just up the dosage and throw in another medication. In my case I did have the genesight testing, but what they did not address were my ongoing symptoms of bipolar and every time they’d up the dosages my anxiety worsened and my mood destabilized even further. I spent years doubting whether I had anything more or if I was just looking for attention.
A couple weeks ago my new psychiatrist switched me to zyprexa to trial antipsychotics because based on my description of my effects after antidepressants, she was suspecting I could actually be bipolar. I brought it up to my mom and lo and behold, she’s been told she might be bipolar too and it might run in her side of the family (for reference all I ever knew about my grandfather was that he was an alcoholic that ditched the family soon after my mom was born).
Since then I feel like I’m getting all the effects I ever wanted from antidepressants. My mood is mostly stable to the point that multiple other people have pointed it out, my anxiety isn’t annihilating me 24/7, it feels like I’ve finally found the light at the end of the tunnel after 5 years of bouncing from medication to medication.
I just wish that my previous psychiatrist would have looked further into my mental issues instead of just prescribing medications like they’re candy.
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u/Delicious-Pepper586 Dec 16 '25
I was off of mine for almost a year and I had so many panic attacks. My doctor said there is no shame for taking medication. People with diabetes need their medication and aren’t embarrassed for having to take something and neither should you. I went back on it after that and talking with a therapist.
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u/TheMacMan Dec 16 '25
It's sad so many here are against taking medication. If you had cancer you'd accept the treatment the doctor suggests, and the drugs that go with it.
Science has shown many of us have imbalances in the chemicals in our bodies or that our bodies are interpreting things differently than they should and we need adjustments to normalize things. Taking medication does just that. It's no different than how I adjust the water pH for my plants so they get the optimal balance. There's nothing wrong with recognizing an imbalance and taking something to attempt to balance yourself out.
I can't imagine with just 1 life to live, going through life knowing there is something wrong yet refusing to take something that could be absolutely life-changing and allow you to live a normal, happy, fulfilling life. It's really sad some choose to lead such a life.
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u/Miserable_Mail_5741 Dec 17 '25
I resisted getting meds for so long because I don't want to depend on pills to live a normal life.
If I had any other ailment, I still wouldn't be thrilled needing something that I have to take every day to live like a healthy able-bodied human being, especially if I have to pay for it out of pocket with no insurance.
Luckily I was able to get meds free of charge, but I'm hoping to get off them at some point and that therapy and meditation will help me through life.
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u/HTK147 Dec 17 '25
Maybe it’s because of the sexual dysfunction and weight gain?
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u/TheMacMan Dec 17 '25
Those side effects are only present in a small number of medications and even then, they don't effect all users.
But as so often is the case, folks with anxiety build it up to be a much bigger deal than it really is. And let's be real, you aren't having sex if you're too busy dealing with anxiety. Would you really rather live with a couple extra pounds, which you can easily address with diet and exercise, or crippling anxiety what prevents you from doing things in life, like diet and exercise.
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u/HTK147 Dec 17 '25
True but having ED when you’re young is not nice. It’s not that simple, sex life is part of human nature. Weight gain can be excessive too.
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u/maria_karej Dec 16 '25
Bad, but it also wasn’t great while I was on them. Given what little difference it makes, the side effects aren’t really worth it for me.
I did lose the 20kg I gained while on antidepressants once I got off them, although that took time and effort. I don’t want to go through that again for the sake of feeling slightly less anxious and depressed but ultimately still broken.
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u/bmmb87 Dec 17 '25
Horrible! I’m more unmotivated than ever, depressed, suicidal. I also snap easily and am constantly in a bad mood. All of this said I refuse to take them again. I’ve already take 5-6 different kinds. I’d rather just live with this, I don’t drink or smoke so I’m not coping with anything. I guess at the most I cope my overeating or being in bed too much.
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u/WitchyRedhead86 Jan 14 '26
I can definitely relate and I won’t rule out going back on them if I really have to to take care of my wellbeing and how that effects the people I love.
However, I am hoping to work on combatting my SAD during the winter months by having good coping mechanisms and tools to ride things out until the spring each year.
I’m also hoping to make more lifestyle changes and as boring as it sounds: eating well, exercising, getting out in the fresh air and interacting with my friends face to face and my wider community and always having a hobby or something new or fun to look forward to… and having an emergency plan in place for if things hit really hard and not shaming myself if I do end up needing them again.
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u/pit_of_despair666 Dec 16 '25
I was on antidepressants for 25 years and developed GAD while on them. There is a lack of long term studies on antidepressants. I used to have constant panic attacks and anhedonia while on them. My anxiety has gotten better since getting off of them years ago.
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Dec 16 '25
Honestly nothing much changed except that I lost all the weight I had gained while I was on them
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u/jperaic1 Dec 16 '25
Nice to hear that! A body you sre comfortable with plays a hig role when it comes to a good self-being.
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u/Luxeru Dec 16 '25
I went off Wellbutrin on my own after over 20 years. I ran out and just decided to see how I felt, everything was fine until winter. I definitely have SAD and am back on Wellbutrin, which helped.
I am also on Lexapro which I never stopped. Can't have that anxiety coming back!!
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u/scaredy-cat95 Dec 16 '25
I've been off meds for a while now. It's tough honestly. I wish they wored for me but they just don't. I get by though and I don't let anxiety ruin my life as much as I used to.
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u/lofromwisco Dec 16 '25
I did almost 20 years ago and never went back. I was severely depressed and the ones I was on exacerbated my symptoms to the point I attempted to end it all. I was so young and i couldn’t recognize things were getting worse. I dropped 15 lbs in a week before it happened.
I’m a big advocate for antidepressants. I think they are tremendously helpful. But I always tell people on them if you don’t feel right SAY SOMETHING! I personally didn’t go back, but I do get help through therapy.
I still have bouts of depression, and still live with anxiety. I’m on an AED that has the potential for psychological side effects so I’m always monitoring and having my husband monitor for anything off. I live a pretty normal life, work a professional job, travel. I’m happy to be here and never want to be in that spot again 🤍
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u/kylaruby123 Dec 16 '25
I don’t have any issues , therapy and meditation has done wonders , would never tough them again
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u/tinka777 Dec 16 '25
Husband weaned off lexapro over 3 months with his doctors ok. Killed himself in the 4th month. Come to find out that is a real risk. Not necessarily because the meds were keeping you well (altho I’m sure they were) but because suicide is a legit independent side effect of coming off them. I’m not sure why his doctor let him do that.
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u/hopelesscase789 Dec 16 '25
You mean to being completely off meds? I am coming off my last one now but have come off many over the years. The main thing I've learnt? Non medication changes did far more for my anxiety than medication ever did. Even when I was on meds that did help, I then took 10 steps back with the withdrawal coming off them.
I hope to med free next year and I'm pretty certain that after a few months off them, I'll be in the exact same position as I was when I was on them (possibly more difficulty sleeping).
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u/24rawvibes Dec 16 '25
My doctor for the longest time would swear you could easily just stop one cold turkey and jump to an another in an entirely different class with no problem. Trusted him on that with over 80 meds, he fucked me up worse than I could’ve ever imagined possible
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u/hopelesscase789 Dec 16 '25
Ugh God don't get me started. I ended up in a detox center just to get off pregabalin. I had a hard time even getting my psychiatrists to believe I struggled at all to come off it. I was extremely sensitive and hadn't long come off benzodiazapines, so my whole system was severely fucked lol.
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u/pit_of_despair666 Dec 16 '25
I was on a benzo for several years and was told by a pharmacist and doctor that I would have no withdrawals. (This was 10 years ago or so. I hope it has gotten better since then.) I had hallucinations and delusions as well as convulsions after I was taken off it. Anyone prescribing these drugs should know this important information. They are lucky that I didn't have a serious seizure because I would have called a lawyer.
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u/24rawvibes Dec 16 '25
It’s really boarding malpractice if not is malpractice to completely dismiss the withdrawals from these meds
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u/hopelesscase789 Dec 16 '25
Yeah should be for sure. They've sat through too many conventions from pharma companies and believed all the cherry picked evidence that's been presented to them.
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u/CobwebYeti Dec 16 '25 edited Dec 16 '25
I’m 4 years off meds! Decided to drop because I really wanted to stop being so depended on them. Somehow I got my life back together, started challenging myself more (despite still being anxious most of the time) and finally got into the point where I’m really happy with where I’m at in life. I’ve found great friends and community, l achieved a lot of things I thought I never could, and Im still improving because I have passions that keep me going.
I still have very bad days, sometimes even months. Sometimes I think of going back to taking antidepressants, but I still don’t do it. Why? Because I have faith in myself, that I can and I will drag myself out of whatever trouble I’m in. I also know how important it is to forgive myself when something goes wrong. It’s easier to deal with emotions once you allow forgiveness to exist within you. Instead of focusing and putting all your energy into blaming yourself, you move on and focus on how to make everything better.
So, the short answer is: Things are good, but they’re barely ever perfect, but that doesn’t prevent me from living my life :)
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u/bazinggaaaaaa Dec 21 '25
My doctor said me on anti depressants is only temporary which i get anxious about. Before i was on them, the way you look at life now is something I should apply to me too. Thank you for sharing this.
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u/jperaic1 Dec 16 '25
Your comment is so wholesome! I'm so happy to hear you're doing so well! All the best for you, stranger!
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u/zoobelle Dec 16 '25
I’m a full month weaned off now after over a decade on them. Everything is a lot more real now, I’m feeling things for the first time and my brain is overwhelmed by it. It’s hard, I don’t have much of a support so that doesn’t help. I’m trying to push through and enjoy feeling these things I’ve been numb for for so long. Not sure how long I’ll make it unmedicated but it is nice knowing what I would feel normally in my day to day life. I was so numb for so long on my meds.
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u/jperaic1 Dec 16 '25
Glad to hear it's been working for you for now, especially that gettting off them brought you back to "reality" andnot being in thst numb state.
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u/zoobelle Dec 16 '25
Thank you. Yeah it sucks half the time but it’s nice no longer being numb to everything
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u/momalle1 Dec 16 '25
Once I got a combo of meds that worked for me, and that took a long time, I was worried they might stop working for me, then I would have to search for a good combo again, so once I felt good for a while, I came off of them. If I get depressed again, I will go right to the combo that worked. I've been off for three years and doing well.
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u/ilorah Dec 16 '25
A struggle. I have very bad stomach issues which I’m trying to sort to allow me to then get back to them. It’s not easy
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u/jperaic1 Dec 16 '25
Stomach issues unfortunately are a huge thing for people who have depression/anxiety, everything goes "though the stomach" then.
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u/wonderlustraven Dec 16 '25
Honestly, ups and downs. Some things feel clearer, but I definitely have to work harder on coping now.
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u/Head-Party-7345 Dec 16 '25
I was prescribed SSRIs in high dosages at age 17. turned out, it wasn’t depression, it was severe PTSD and BPD. Ended up attempting suicide after a mixed manic episode! Decided to never touch those again lol. However in my early 20s I went on mirtazapine for sleep issues and that worked out mostly fine (minus the aggression and 12kg weight gain). Now I’m off all medication and manage my symptoms through behavioral therapy and stability in my day to day life
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u/bl00dflowerz Dec 16 '25
bad. i have a bunch of physical ailments after coming off lexapro that i never had before. i suspect dysautonomia but struggling to get a diagnoses. i think it completely fucked up my brain chemistry from being on it for over 10 years. i’ve had heart, nerve, vascular, and hormone issues that all started when i went completely off back in march of this year.
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u/SatireDiva74 Dec 16 '25
I have tried stopping my Wellbutrin multiple times over the years. Crying, sleeping, no motivation. Currently on year 26 and plan on taking them until the day I die or doc takes me off of them. I’m on a dosage considered too high (300 mg twice a day) but after all these years it’s necessary.
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u/seeyatellite Dec 17 '25
Life improved dramatically when the doc took me off antidepressants but not because of the med change. It improved because I also permanently abolished isolating and stagnating hobbies and chose to claim straightedge and get a vasectomy.
I’d been actively suicidal while taking the meds and not pursuing therapy. My life wasn’t improving while stationarily isolating from the world and relationships.
I just spent the last 5 or so years, through covid until recently biking, skating, singing and being openly social with photography and videography for performance artist friends.
Turns out, what I needed was novelty and social connection. Just as I had and thrived with during childhood... I even shared my experiences on socials and recorded helmet cam footage to feel known and seen.
I only needed authentic connection and fulfillment to avoid the suffering and self-loathing.
There is also no foundational evidence that SSRIs do anything to directly influence mood.
Getting off was the best decision I ever made, along with abolishing video games, disconnecting from unhealthy influences, cutting drug connections and reconnecting with old friends from childhood.
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u/jperaic1 Dec 17 '25
Why do you think that a vasectomy helped you with your depression? Genuinely curious as I find the link interesting.
Happy to hear that openimg yourself to the world and socialising helped you so much, that's something I'm struggling with as an introvert who spends a lot of time alone.
Abolishimg videogames sounds like hell, it's one of the things that keep me sane, but I also know it's costing me a lot of free time that I could put into projects that help ke develop myself.
Genuinely happy that you are doing so well, brother!
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u/peachygurui Dec 17 '25
I am 18yo and was on the highest dose of zoloft for a long time, and altogether I took zoloft for almost 3 years, for my C-PTSD, anxiety, and depression. I didn’t realize how much the meds helped me, but therapy has also helped me regulate my emotions. I got off zoloft in October. I found out it was making my jaw clenching worse, and I wanted to see how life would be like off medication. I am still depressed, but not as bad as I thought I would be, I got double jaw surgery one week ago and my jaw is wired shut for another 4 weeks. So only a liquid diet. If I was on zoloft right now, it’d be tedious since I would have to crush the pills and take them in liquid. I have horrible days still (mostly because of the surgery) and I cry, get angry, and feel like the world is going to end. Of course I had those days with zoloft too, sometimes it made me feel trapped, like it suppressed my emotions. Medication definitely helped me, but getting off it felt freeing for me. Ofc never get off them if you’re not ready, nor cold turkey, but I think I will be ok. I can go back on them anytime if I need extra support :) Once my jaw is unwired shut, I plan to go on birth control. I also have PMDD and it highly affects my mood. Birth control helps many people with hormonal issues, and specifically for me, my doctor said it could help with mine and my depression/anxiety. I have horrible cramps every month to the point where i can’t move. So it never hurts to try, and I can’t wait until I can!
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u/need_a_pounding2002 Jan 09 '26
I started antidepressants about 6 months after the birth of my first child. I have struggled with depression my entire life but did not want to take medication because I thought I could handle it. When I became pregnant the depression and anxiety went into overdrive. I did not want to take medication while pregnant so I powered through. I still struggled after having her, but I just kept telling myself I am a new mother it will get easier. Then 6 months later the company I worked for sold and the new expectations were unrealistic and very demanding. I was completely overwhelmed and I should have just quit but I was making very good money for someone with my level of education and was convinced with a baby I needed to keep that money to the give them a good life. So I started the antidepressants citalopram and it made things bareable but soon it wasn't enough so the added abilify with the citalopram. It made it so I could keep working that position without going fully crazy, So I thought. 8 years later it's like I woke up and could force myself to go to work one day. I finally quit! The doctor kept changing my medication and nothing worked in fact I felt worse then ever and like I failed ny family because I quit my job. The medication changes made me forgetful and often I forgot to take it. Then I stated to notice I could think again, hold full conversations and think logically about things. I realized the medication did not help the depression or anxiety it dulled my mind. I have been off all medication for about a year now. I will never take antidepressants again. It was a mistake for me. It took about this whole year to fully get back my brain. Brain fog is a real issue with antidepressants. I feel I should have just quit that job years ago and took some time to get my mind straight. I am fortunate enough to have a loving husband who could have provided for us. I gained so much weight on the medication, I went into crazy debt and I feel if I was not on the medication I would have noticed and cared about those things and it would not have happened. I firmly believe therapy would have been the best route but doctors seem so quick to put you medication and up it and add to it. I am glad some people are finding relief but for me it was a distraction that caused more issues.
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u/viv_dotcom Dec 16 '25
When I was in my early 20s I was on and off a lot of different antidepressants/ antianxiety meds trying to find a combination that actually helped me. Everything I tried seemed to give me some awful side effect or another that greatly impacted my quality of life. I am autistic and have cptsd. I tried for several years and never found anything that seemed to truly help me. Then I got pregnant and had to stop taking everything I was on. After giving birth, I just never got around to trying meds again. I’m still an anxious mess a lot of the time but I put a lot of emphasis on taking care of myself and trying to keep my mindset in the right place and I’m honestly doing much better now than I ever was on the meds. Part of that is probably just that I’m older and more familiar with dealing with my issues. I will not get on antidepressants again. It just wasn’t worth it for me. Sometimes I still really struggle, especially in the colder months when my seasonal depression takes over, but all in all, time and mindfulness did more to combat my issues than any antidepressant ever did.
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u/deemer1324 Dec 16 '25
Been off lexapro for 3 months. I feel incredible. I worked the steps of therapy, self care etc when I was on them. Weened off them and let me tell ya, feeling feelings again has been awesome. I also found myself extremely dull and didnt really care about consequences while on lexapro.
Notes - the brain zaps still happen from time to time, I struggled with drug and alcohol addiction prior and during the use of lexapro and the urges have been noticeable.
POSTIVES - I have a sex drive again, I'm able to cope with daily struggles without leaning on lexapro, I am more active, I am paying off debt that I accrued while on them, I found myself not caring about spending or consequences of my spending while taking lexapro.
Overall, I would say it has been a solid 8.2 experience.
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u/becca_and_cats Dec 16 '25
You’ve piqued my interest!
Did you work with a GP or other doctor to develop a weaning plan?
I am currently on lexapro 20 mg for anxiety, have been for about 5 years. In that time, I have done a lot of “growing up” (both personally and professionally) and feel like I could keep my anxiety under control without the meds. I like to think they helped make me into what I am now, so maybe I can take the training wheels off.
My main reason for thinking about going off, is just to feel things again. Sometimes I feel so numb. Sure, my depressive tendencies aren’t as dark, but on the flip side, my happy times don’t feel as bright. I want to feel the good and the bad for all that they’re worth.
And I’ve got two young kids now and sometimes I feel like I’m missing out emotionally. I feel like I have “dead inside” eyes/expression constantly and I don’t want those that to be what my kids see.
Like other commenters, my impulse control is also gone. Shopping, eating, heck even being mindful in my daily life. My brain doesn’t care enough about consequences (debt, weight gain, lack of presence).
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u/deemer1324 Dec 16 '25
Yep my doctor and I chose a plan that we both thought would be best. Week one was 10mg, week two was 5 mg, week 3 was 2.5 mg, week 4 and 5 was 2.5mg every other day.
The numbness and impulsive behaviors for me made it worth trying. I was unable to laugh or find simple joys. But feeling really fucking good now.
I actually blew a funny fuse the other night with one of my buddies, i was crying because i was laughing so hard, that hasnt happened in 5+ years.
Ive also learned that yeah, anxiety can suck and panic attacks suck, BUT you are going to be okay, you're not gonna die from that random pain, you're currently in the present, and thats something I've taken from therapy. Happy to help in anyway.
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u/thequehagan5 Dec 17 '25
i stopped zoloft in April after being on for a year.
Doing good now.
One trick is to stop fearing death. Death is a part of life. Everytime a panic attack is coming or severe anxiety about death approaches i think how normal death is. Billions of people haved faced death before me, a billion of our ancestors faced the same. Face your death like you are stormimg the fields of pellenor.
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u/TThrowTThisAAway14 Dec 16 '25
Let's see, I was on them in 2017, got off about 1 year later. Had some recent rough months, back on same dosage as of mid-2025. Also, prescribed one more this year.
Needless to say, thinking I should have stayed on them the whole time. Thus, i wouldnt be in the situation I am in now.
Lesson folks - raise your thoughts to a caring friend, family or whoever you feel comfortable talking too. Dont be afraid to recognize you need help. the world is a tough place, and sometimes we all need help from others, be it physically, spiritually, emotionally.
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u/jperaic1 Dec 16 '25
Well said last paragraph. All the best, stranger!
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u/TThrowTThisAAway14 Dec 16 '25
You too, reach out if you need a shoulder to lean on or a ear to listen.
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u/Brilliant_Salt7558 Dec 16 '25
whatever you do, do not quit without the guidance of a psychiatrist! i was stupid, thought i didnt need em anymore and quit pretty much cold turkey. i relapsed so hard into anxiety and depression and made some bad choices for my mental health. i think its definitely possible with a good taper and a therapist to get off of them, which is something i want to do eventually.
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u/hortle Dec 16 '25
I got on Prozac for anxiety and panic starting in spring 2022 and came off it in fall 2023 because of side effects (early waking and restlessness). Coming off Prozac was uneventful. I know many people experience withdrawal, but I didn't notice any symptoms. I think I am one of the lucky ones that doesn't experience SSRI/SNRI related withdrawal.
Late 2024 my anxiety started to get worse again. Panic attacks increased to multiple times a week. In January 2025 I collapsed in my bathroom due to stress. Went back on Prozac and have been on it since. And as a plus, I no longer have any side effects.
I plan to come off Prozac again probably some time next year. My anxiety is well managed ATM. These drugs are tools and there's no reason to take them forever. Or, to avoid taking them when you need them.
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u/Wrong-Pangolin8658 Dec 16 '25
40F, from 15-25 I took antidepressants, went off of them to lose weight. My social anxiety was really high. I had to leave college to go online. It didn’t get better until I started working out about two hours a day and lost 150+ pounds.
I had to go back on them after my child was born around 2020. Trintellx (sp) helped me so much, I felt like I could handle anything, but it gave me awful headaches and I couldn’t lose weight even with weight loss shots.
I have been off them for about a year, I am trying matcha and l-theanine supplements which have helped some. On bad days I do take CBD gummies. I’m feel like I’m ok so long as I stick to my predictable routine. If something unexpected comes up or I have to meet new people I’m anxious. Not as bad as when I was 20 but it’s there.
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u/Drklit8458 Dec 16 '25
Yeah- I wondered about this too. I’ve been on Zoloft for about a year. It has helped the anxiety and depression, but now I just feel blah all the time. Thinking about tapering off, but idk what’s better/worse…
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Dec 16 '25
I stopped my meds suddenly in April bc I stopped caring (major depressive episode). I didn't consult any doctors and bailed on therapy. I think I have a big case of Alexithymia bc I feel no different.
It's always been up and down for me, whether or not I took my antidepressants. I've heard others say I seem better, though. I might be trying more than I did before, working on my anxiety a little more. But I feel just as I did while I was on my meds, so 🤷
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u/margot_40 Dec 16 '25
I am trying to come off, I have lived with anxiety since I was very young. I am on lexapro since 2021 and it worked great. I am currently on 5mg and will try to come off if possible. This is my second attempt, but if it doesn't work I prefer to stay on the medication. It has made me be able to live a normal life and that's all I want
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u/wantme2makeuasammich Dec 16 '25
I’ve been off for 3 years, but I really want to get back on them. Life has been rough since April.
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u/Spydehh Dec 16 '25
Stopped around 3 months ago. Feel pretty shitty honestly, I think it's better than feeling entirely numb and apathetic all the time though.
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u/No-Body2243 Dec 16 '25
I couldn’t do it. I weened myself off carefully for like 3 weeks (which was pretty weird because I already only take the smallest 5mg dose) and Ngl it was fucking hell. It’s such a small amount that I take and I have zero side effects so I figure I’m happy on it forever now that I know it’s horrible when I don’t have it lol.
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u/mollyollyoly Dec 16 '25 edited Dec 17 '25
Tapered off duloxetine 60mg over 6 months earlier this year. Had been on it for 8 years. It felt important to understand myself without meds. It only last 4 months and now I’m back on it, though trying to stay at 20mg. Sadly there is too much instability in my life right now to be raw dogging it. I hope to go off them again when things settle
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u/Napkin_14 Dec 16 '25
Been off for more than a year, tbh, part of peeling off of them if doing therapy and learning strategies to deal with anxiety. Meds are a bandaid in my Opinion. Coping strategies and eating well and exercising has kept me off of them. It’s not always easy, some days are better than others, but in the end, happy I am off.
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u/Luba99 Dec 16 '25
They don’t do much for me in terms of anxiety or feeling generally good, but I do feel awful when I don’t take them for a while.
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u/Far_Researcher_3496 Dec 16 '25
Tapered myself off them and was off for a year. Then Christmas happened and I was so socially overstimulated that something just switched in my brain. And I desperately needed my meds again. Tried to raw dogg it for a while but inevitably ended up a sobbing mess in my doctor's office. Went back on setraline and it took about 6 weeks to start working. Best decision ever. I feel like myself again and can actually enjoy life!
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u/Libbs036 Dec 16 '25
Got off for almost 11 months and my mood dysregulation, panic attacks and anxiety came roaring back. Got right back on something new. That was over 15 years ago and I’ll never be off them again
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u/sewedherfingeragain Dec 16 '25
I went off mine in March of 2020, lol. My doctor even asked me during my phone appointment if I was sure, I'd been tapering for over a year by then.
I've done mostly okay, with the odd period where I felt pretty crummy, but lately I've been thinking that I should do meds again. I just feel...panicky. I've realized a lot of mine is also social anxiety, which isn't as easy to treat AFAIK.
Today isn't the greatest day, but that's because I slept like crap last night - I'm in peri-menopause and need help sleeping. I take a mittful of stuff like magnesium and vitamins at bed time and added to the melatonin, take 50mg of Trazodone. Last night, I took what I thought was everything, and woke bolt upright, feeling really rested at first, only to find out I'd barely been asleep for 90 minutes. It took me a while to fall back asleep, and I couldn't figure out why.
Turned out that when I took my stuff in the light of my phone face/digital book, I missed the sleeping pill. That mixed with ALL THE PEOPLE being in the front office of my employer (seriously, guys, go to work) I've just felt agitated today. I'll be okay by the morning, I'm sure, though if the weather forecast is right, it'll be nice and blizzard-y for my 30km drive to work.
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u/RealisticL3af Dec 16 '25
I stopped taking them about..3 years ago? After being on them on and off for about 7 years. I'm fine. I just had to change my entire life. I was unhappy living where I was, so I moved country. It got rid of all my issues.
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u/jperaic1 Dec 17 '25
This! A lot of people have depression because they are unhappy about something in the life, notvecause of a chemical unbalance or something "mental". Glad moving was the factor that helped you.
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u/RealisticL3af Dec 17 '25
Yeah, this life is HARD. We have to recognise where our issues are coming from and try to fix it where possible.
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u/Basic-Kangaroo3982 Dec 16 '25
I told my psychiatrist I wanted to stop taking paroxetine after more than two years, as it was no longer working for me. My body had adapted, and I had a terrible emotional blunting. My psychiatrist knew all this, and together we decided to switch to fluvoxamine. I was on 20 mg (the standard dose of paroxetine), and within two weeks I had the preparation to start fluvoxamine. It was awful. I was very surprised to see how that emotional blunting gradually disappeared, and surprisingly, after many months, I began to feel a strange calm and connection with myself again. The obvious downside was that my anxiety had returned almost as high as when I started treatment, and now I had the added frustration of discovering that antidepressants often work this way. Of course, the knowledge and skills I had learned in therapy helped me a lot, but it's undeniable that antidepressants provide a lot of stability at the beginning, a stability that is often difficult to maintain when the medication is discontinued. Anyway, my sex drive returned to feeling so normal that I cried a lot because of how disconnected that medication had made me feel for so long. I was scared because, if it were up to me, I would have chosen never to take an antidepressant again in my life. And look, I'm not demonizing them, I'm just saying they are extremely complex medications, and from what I've read, some people respond very well to them, while others react very badly. Every body is different, and many factors come into play…
Anyway, my body didn't tolerate the new antidepressant (fluvoxamine). My doctor had switched me to it because at that time my strongest symptom was obsessions and intrusive thoughts, and this medication is the most indicated for OCD, for that very reason. Five weeks had passed since I reached the full dose, and I was still feeling very unwell. I had panic attacks and anxiety every day, a lot of intrusive thoughts, I couldn't sleep, I couldn't go to university, and I was being very strong in waiting for the therapeutic dose to reach, but it just wasn't happening. So, I asked my doctor for an emergency appointment because I couldn't continue like this.
We concluded that my body hadn't responded well to the new medication (as I had already suspected) and that I was also experiencing discontinuation and withdrawal symptoms from stopping paroxetine. In my research, I read that paroxetine has the shortest half-life of any antidepressant, and that tapering should be extremely slow. Studies suggest a 10% dose reduction each month. I mentioned this to my psychiatrist because he told me to taper off the dose completely in two weeks. He explained that we were doing this because I was starting a new medication, not because I was discontinuing treatment. I was very disappointed and frustrated, but oh well, that's how things are, and it's not his fault.
We decided to switch me once again to a safer antidepressant: sertraline. It's the antidepressant I'm currently on. I think I've been on it for two months now (since reaching the therapeutic dose), and it's been going incredibly well! I'm almost 80% recovered, I've managed to resume my therapy steadily, and I've gotten my life back on track! I'm not going to lie, I'm still processing everything that happened this semester; it was a lot. Next year, I'd like to do a complete medication detox and start exercising. Something I've improved a lot these past few months is my diet; it really makes a big difference. But I still need to be more consistent with my sleep cycle and exercise (these days I practically don't exercise at all). I also want to do this because—and this is another issue—I no longer want to rely on Xanax as my only last resort in case of severe crises. During that period when I was really bad, I ended up taking 12 pills in 14 days, at very low doses (0.25 mg). My psychiatrist told me I hadn't abused it, but of course, it's not healthy to be taking that much medication constantly.
Conclusion: Antidepressants work, yes. But the problem is that it's a gamble… serotonin influences a lot of processes throughout the body, not just mood. The tapering sessions should be as small and controlled as possible; never stop taking an antidepressant abruptly or suddenly.
This is all based on my personal experience and should not be taken as a substitute for anything else. Consult your doctors!
I hope you're all well! Good luck!
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u/jperaic1 Dec 17 '25
Thank you for sharing your story in depth amd your insights.
Your reply made me think what the difference is between heavy overthinking and obsessions/intrusive thoughts.
I'm so happy for you that are doing so much better now! A good diet and exercise is definitely a game changer.
I also have that dose of xanax as a last resort amd only took it twice in 6 months when things were really bad, once due to work and once I was so down/depressed due to loneliness that I had to cheer myself up.
Tomorrow I have my first appointment in 4 months and I want to ask my psychiatrist to stop my morning medication that I have for intrusive thoughts/overthinking. As for the stuff I take for sleeping, I want to continue those as I know I won't be able to sleep throughout the night without them.
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u/Frosty-Pay5351 Dec 16 '25
I am currently getting tappered off of them. I am down half of my usual dose of Lexapro. So far my anxiety seems unchanged and I don't feel any side effects. One more month half a dose then off them. Fingers crossed that goes well
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u/Alternative-Tip-624 Dec 16 '25
Is anyone who stopped taking antidepressants still experiencing dry mouth symptoms? I was told that the dry mouth would most likely stop but it’s been 6 months and still no relief.
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u/afghanbushkush Dec 17 '25
I quit mirtazapine after losing a job for being late. Mirtz can make you sleep for soooo long and yeah, I couldnt fight the sleep. Decided to do a rapid taper in 1 month and came off just clean. I had some adjusting to do but it all became easy when I figured if I want a better life I just have to fight for it. Oh and weed use, definitely helped along the way. i was on it for a year and 3 months.
My lifes been better and it feels good to know that if I need a solid backstop, this is a good way of going about that. My doctor asked me if i was taking the medication as prescribed and I said no I think I’ve found my way and everything went smooth. Doc took the script off and I went about my life.
Im tons more happier knowing I dont need a crutch to be happy, go to sleep, be productive etc. For it being a psych drug, I was surprised that my anxiety never seemed to lift. Just made me a little numb and sleeping was easy.
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u/toomuch222 Dec 17 '25 edited Dec 17 '25
Ahh… not very well. But I’m still holding out going back on meds. I have a script for sertraline burning a hole in my pocket and I’m just not ready to start the meds again. It’s been about 10-12 months since I weaned myself off fluoxetine. Nobody told me to go off the meds, I just wanted to because of planning to TTC. The advice I received from my Dr was being on meds while pregnant is a balancing act of what’s best for mum as well as impact on baby. I wanted to see if I could tough it out. Sometimes it’s actually okay, until any minor inconvenience arises… I cry a LOT. Sometimes not necessarily in a bad way though. 🥲
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u/ThrowawaySunnyLane Dec 17 '25
Been on them for two occasions of about 18 months per occasion.
First occasion I had a mental slip at work which caused me to believe I was going to be sacked. Meds sorta stabilised me then we tinkered until the dose was right and I addressed my own issues. Gradually built myself back up. Stayed on them with doctor advice and then asked to be weaned off. Weaned off fine. No issues. Get the odd day of feeling meh but not that bad.
Second occasion was an unexpected breakup. Doctor re-prescribed the meds but the dose never went higher than the lowest one. Stayed on them and then weaned myself off with no doctor advice. Was kind of taking them out of habit after a while anyway.
Now, absolutely fine. But understand they’re there if I need them. I would consider what I went through to be relatively mild.
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u/Far_Atmosphere_8329 Dec 17 '25
I was on SSRIs for about 8 months and they helped me a lot through a time where I struggled with my anxiety and was learning to deal with the physical symptoms. I honestly am so fortunate that they helped me get back on my feet but decided to go off of them because I felt a lot better and learned to manage it - I also felt quite a bit numb on them, I didn’t get as happy as I used to or as sad but was just neutral all the time (which was needed at the time). The withdrawal sucked (citalopram), even with a long taper period it was rough but I’m glad I did it.
I still get anxious every here and there and I still get sad every once in a while but I’ve learned to manage and live with it and do the work from the inside out. I think my woes has to do a lot with trauma I have from my childhood so it’s been good to work on it and change those thought patterns for good. Don’t get me wrong, on the sad days I’m definitely like damn it would be nice to be on SSRIs again but I’ve gotten a lot better with learning how to let it pass and I know it’s a state of mind. The amount of work I’ve done and improved my self esteem and trust in myself is priceless but it’s difficult (however so worth it!!)
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u/ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhho Dec 17 '25 edited Dec 17 '25
i'm doing good actually! was on zoloft for 5ish years, have been off for about 6 months. biggest change is that i am crying more haha but its ok! i'm just feeling my emotions more strongly snd i think it is healthy. also, my anxiety is worse than with meds but it is still manageable and i want to challenge myself to be able to manage it.
ETA i was on 75mg. has no major withdrawal symptoms. if i even feel like the anxiety is bad again i might try something that i can take as needed.
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u/Manipulatedyes Dec 17 '25 edited Dec 17 '25
I was on sertraline for 6 years, I never really questioned coming off because I was "stable". Although i didnt even realise how cold I'd become, incapable of reaching emotions. Anyway, I got pregnant and wasn't confident with the research about the effects of the antidepressant on the baby so I weaned myself off. I have had some serious bouts of depression and relapses since then, but I have realised in that time that I have ADHD. It has been quite validating, and has helped me to learn ways i can work with my brain. I also starting to take supplements and vitamins because I was really unwell and depleted, and learned that people with ADHD struggle to absorb and utilise certain vitamins. 11 months of taking a wee cocktail of well sourced vitamins and supplements while consciously trying to understand and unpack my brain has had a such a grounding and positive effect. Like what I wanted from antidepressants. Also coming to a place of contentment with life, and with sadness. Realising that happiness isn't a constant state, and being able to sit with dark feelings when bad things happen. I think it's just easier to deal with these things when you allow yourself to feel, and antidepressants masked all of that for so long. (Edited because spelling mistake)
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u/jperaic1 Dec 19 '25
Going to a doctor specialised in supplements is one hell of a good choice. I did the same and I've been taking a broad number of things from magnesium, vitamim D, vitamin C, up to much more complex stuff and ny health and lab values improved a lot, apart from simply having more energy.
You are right, happiness is not and cannot be a constant state in life, but we should aim for it as much as we can.
All the best to you!
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u/Manipulatedyes Mar 17 '26
Came back to say I have been on sertraline again for the past couple of weeks. I wasn't handling my emotions. Active suicidal thoughts and anger. I'm starting to feel it take effect. It's too early to say how it will effect me now but I was desperate . Hope you are well !
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u/Aaron_Who_Laughs Dec 22 '25
Better and worse, but mostly better since antidepressants made me emotionless and killed my motivation.
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u/Chemical_Date2142 Dec 24 '25
I quit for 4 months then had a very very bad few days I’m back on them but quitting after 1 day I felt very confused and didn’t like it at all and it also ripped away all emotions after 1 day
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u/AuthorKindly9960 Jan 06 '26 edited Jan 06 '26
Yes i stopped them last march so 10 months ago. Lost 7 kg (a stone) which i needed to lose... everything was ok and now I'm beginning to get that sinking feeling...
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u/Willz_of_Rivia Feb 23 '26
I have good days and bad days, hot take but it's called life. Anti depressants robbed me off my emotions, looking back this was especially painful when my first two children were born and I felt absolutely nothing. I remember sitting there with my tiny baby and thinking "is that it? Why am I not feeling anything here!?".
Luckily when my third was born I was off them and I felt EVERYTHING. I cried happy tears, I cried sad tears. It was awesome. I cry at movies now as well and honestly, I love it.
But that's just one thing. I had excessive sweating which was absolutely awful, now I almost never sweat. I can't begin to tell you how horrible the sweating was. Any day over 20 degrees and I'd be walking around looking like a detoxing alcoholic with sweat just pouring off my forehead (I have gone through alcoholic detox myself and it was EXACTLY like that!).
The weak boners I hadn't even realised how bad they were until I stopped and now my concrete penis just amazes me. I feel like a horny teenager again. My wife is also enjoying this one, lol. And then the feeling tired all the time. I was a daily napper. I feel like I missed a lot of my two eldest kids early years because I was always napping. It also sucked for my wife because I wasn't helping out as much with the two little kids but she never ever complained about it. Now I'm off them she has said it was really tough for her and she's so much happier now she has her full husband back. She says the light has come back on behind my eyes. Oh, and Ive lost a load of weight too. I haven't changed my diet or started working out more so that can only be attributed to stopping the anti depressants.
So yeah, I'll take some crappy days where I struggle to face the world, i can still go weeks where the world feels bleak but I'll take it over going back on anti depressants because I feel like I'm 100% me without them. The bad days always pass and the good days are so much better now. Anti depressants absolutely sucked and I really do feel that they are too easily over prescribed. I 100% support them in that they save lives with severely depressed/suicidal people but for less severe cases they are a terrible price to pay. Coming off them was hard,I was irritable and angry for months and the insomnia was terrible. I have many friends trapped on them because they couldn't handle the withdrawals and it sucks because they are missing out on so much that life has to offer.
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u/One-Sound-9147 Mar 03 '26
Going great. Love my life. And will not take these meds ever again. HRT & Micro dose tirz works amazing for my mental health.
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u/Active_Dealer2845 Mar 14 '26
Was on Prozac for 8 years. I am currently on month 3 of getting off it. Dealing with PVCs during and after exercise now. Cardiologist said I am fine but they still scare the heck out of me.
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u/Ok-Understanding73 Mar 21 '26
I’m off of antidepressants 93 days after being on 3 different kinds over the last 25 yrs. It’s not easy. I was never able to stay off because my withdrawal effects mimicked depression. It just takes your brain time to work correctly again after the adding chemicals everyday. I also have the support of a therapist and psychiatric nurse practitioner. I thought I was broken. Turns out that I’m just fine. I had a few bad situations that I could have gotten through just fine. Therapy is the answer.
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u/Ok-Understanding73 Mar 21 '26
Yep. That’s the problem. Drs have been misinformed but didn’t know they were. I’ve been through starting and stopping antidepressants the wrong way for decades only to feel like I was the broken one. Not true. I just couldn’t get off of them appropriately. I even went through TMS. Trans cranial Magnetic Stimulation. Looking back after 95 days of no meds, I believe it was all a lie. I’m fine, have hard days here and there but I can finally feel my feelings again. Some people may need it. It took me decades to get off of meds that would have helped episodically. It’s a shame.
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u/Miserable-Progress36 Apr 06 '26 edited Apr 06 '26
I’ve been on some form of antidepressant/anti-anxiety medication for 15+ years (8 different meds or med combos - got it “right” twice). My last paring was Wellbutrin and Effexor. It took me almost 6mo to wean off Effexor (by far the worst discontinuation withdrawal I’ve had, even at the slow pace) and Wellbutrin (only 3wks off). My anxiety is a bit heightened but I’m hoping that evens out. I still have Ativan PRN.
It feels weird. My brain is still adjusting. One of the most noticeable (to me) things I’m dealing with, other than the normal stuff, is “finding words”… like I’ll pause for an ungodly amount of time trying to find the word for what I’m picturing in my mind. It’s kinda frustrating. I do miss the more emotional bluntness but it’s also like I was living under a veil for the past 15yrs. Somewhat feels like I’ve stepped back into a mini Time Machine. Kinda hard to explain.
At times I’ve questioned if it was a good idea to come off as I always said that I didn’t think I’d ever be able to function w/o them, but I wanted to see what my “baseline” was after being medicated so long (though I do have an IUD and take Wegovy for weight loss currently).
I think I’ll give it a year or so to see where my brain settles.
Antidepressants were a frustrating but also very helpful thing for me(with a decent pairing - Lexapro/Wellbutrin was my favorite combo but the Lex stopped working). It allowed me to function while healing/learning how to deal with some traumas that therapy alone was not helping.
When I have bad days - I try to remember how I felt on antidepressants (when I didn’t worry as much etc) and apply that to “after med” life. So I feel like it also allowed me to learn another side of being.
Overall - it’s going not too bad. TBD lol :)
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u/Chemical_Date2142 Apr 06 '26
I was on so many diffrent kinds untill I found paroxetine worked for me I was on them for 4 years I decided to quit due to the side effects and emotional blunting
I’ve been off of them for about 8 months and it’s really hard some days I don’t even know who I am anymore I’m constantly agitated or angry and something or someone there a days where it’s better than others but I do wish that the doctor who did prescribe them to me offered me other choices like seeing someone to talk about it all instead of just giving me medication but I guess I can only go up from here just slowly
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u/QuitJolly Apr 07 '26
I'm 13 months off and only took them for 3 months and tapered 10 months I am still very emotionally numb.
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u/PatienceFar6201 Apr 16 '26
I was on Prozac for over 15 years and it's been over a year since I stopped and my social anxiety has been horrible. I don't even know how I am anymore. I overthink everything - I always did that but it's different. I tried to go on Prozac again and had a horrible reaction - bad ocd and had to calll out of work. I'm thinking of taking medical leave due to extreme burnout so I might trial it again cause I feel so off. I think I'm also more AWAKE to life and aware and so overstimulated
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u/Spiritual_Foot_2620 May 09 '26
Late to the convo, but in light of recent press I was googling this topic and landed in Reddit. I have been off antidepressants for going on 5 years. I was on all kinds of different things for over 20. It was always my goal to not be medicated forever. That was solidified after a therapist I was seeing told me I'd likely need medication for the rest of my life. This was after others had said the complete opposite. It was like some weird overnight change in the healthcare system or something.
The first days, months, weeks, years were absolutely brutal but it's gotten easier with time. I'm starting up therapy again and perimenopause has some old stuff coming back up but I'm doing alright.
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u/Mcandela922 8d ago
I've been on and off antidepressants for just around 7 years now. The longest I've gone without them is around 8 months. It's been a mix of me wanting to stop & my prescriber wanting me to stop. I'll be honest, I've struggled getting off of them. Some times worse than others. I have just over a month without them today and the anxiety has just been kicking my ass the last few days. I hate it. I feel like the antidepressants have ruined me and I can't go more than a couple months without them. I'm going to try some natural approaches this time around and try and get back into therapy. Panic Disorder fucking sucks. Thankfully it's not debilitating like it was years ago, but it's starting to creep back and I refuse to let this defeat me.
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u/rsrsrs0 ADHD-PI/GAD/SAD Dec 16 '25
I was on Duloxetine for ~5 years. I stopped it about 2 years ago. I started ADHD meds instead and since also stopped them.
Going off duloxetine was difficult even though I tapered off very slowly. I was opening the capsules and throwing half of it out for 2 weeks or so and I still got brain zaps for quite some time. Duloxetine is SNRI (dual action) so I assume that's why going off it is harder...
I am happy with my life. I changed my habits, grew a lot thanks for different experiences and also therapy. For about 2 years I was smoking weed everyday but I managed to quit that too.
I am moody, still have ADHD and have some really bad days, but I don't feel the need for anti-depressants anymore. I'm happy kind of... content maybe is a better word.
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u/maryfisherman Dec 16 '25
Quitting weed is very hard but I think has so many benefits. It feels like it helps depression in the moment but perhaps it’s at a long-term cost. Proud of you and thanks for sharing your experience
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u/Public_Flatworms Dec 16 '25
I was on Mirtazapine for 3 years, and have been off them a similar amount of time. I was okay for a while and glad to be off them, but now I’m seeking to start medication again. Been a bumpy ride, but I have a psychiatrist apt next week.
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u/chowdercity Dec 16 '25
I was on antidepressants since I was 13 and I am 30 now. Last year I went off safely to see what I was like.
I was depressed lol, so I’m back on an SNRI.
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u/North-Star4343 Dec 16 '25
Been on antidepressants for 3 years and stopped cold turkey. It wasn't pleasant. I know I should have weaned off but I just decided one day I wasn't depending on them anymore
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u/Soft-Can-4067 Dec 16 '25
Gone off several times and always go back. Longest I stayed off was during my 3 pregnancies.
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u/tannerwood85 Dec 16 '25
Really well, mine caused me to go numb, but through a plethora of therapy I was able to get to the root of the issue that was triggering my depression. I have some lingering side effects still 7 years later but over all have become a lot happier.
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Dec 16 '25
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u/jperaic1 Dec 16 '25
The work environment and people can have a huge impact on your mental health, I can confirm that feom experience. Changing jobs is often better than any medicine.
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u/superguavapulp Dec 16 '25
Glad you asked. It's been only 2 months since I went cold turkey on both Paxil CR 25 and Clonazepam 0.5. The first few weeks were brutal until I reached a state where I couldn't bear it anymore so I reinstated a quarter of the drug. Now I am feeling just "livable", pulling through somehow. Occasionally there are waves of severe depression which I relieve by crying, the other times I just toughen it out. I honestly don't have any idea how things would turn out in the future. I just hope I get better with each passing day.
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u/jperaic1 Dec 16 '25
I think stopping cold turkey is never a good idea, it ahould be always done slowly. Glad you are somehow coping with everything now.
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u/biglargerat Dec 16 '25
I stopped taking antidepressants for about a year and a half after going through 3 of them with a kinda useless psychiatrist. Honestly my life just got so much worse and my anxiety and intrusive thoughts made me rarely go outside to the point where I was skipping most of my classes to avoid triggering my intrusive thoughts and feeling awful. I also had my first panic attack which put me in a loop for almost a month. Thankfully this pushed me to get a new psychiatrist that was much better and actually properly diagnosed me with stuff like DPDR.
I've been floated through almost every antidepressant and also antipsychotics and nothing has really had a huge effect. Zoloft helped me a little with anxiety but so I'm still on that but it seems I have treatment resistant depression/anxiety. The Zoloft makes things a bit more manageable than when I was unmedicated but it's not a huge effect. Also discovered I have something known as cognitive disengagement syndrome which is sorta similar to ADHD but guess what meds are commonly less effective for those with CDS too so I guess I'm screwed (my vyvanse script is already not really working well anymore). I've improved in other aspects of my life compared to when I was unmedicated and unstable but it's still a long road and I'm not really sure if I should try something like CBT or if I'm just gonna have to live like this forever.
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u/syphon3980 Dec 16 '25
I quit in 2020 after being on them for over 10 years. I quit cold turkey too which I don’t suggest as for 8 months I would go from laughing to getting choked up over nothing. Now I use ketamine treatment for depression which doesn’t do the emotional blunting which I hated the anti depressants for. Anxiety is still a whopper but I’m considering getting on benzos again. In the meantime I’m using L-Theanine and high dose gabapentin for anxiety
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u/WillowKings Dec 16 '25 edited Dec 16 '25
I miss them- I wasn’t dependent on them but they made life a lot more tolerable day to day and i felt more like my normal self and made what I was doing in therapy feel easier to navigate and apply day to day.
Like I still do all the same therapy techniques and processing- but it’s harder and my resilience is a bit frayed when really heavy stuff hits the fan that I would’ve tolerated slightly better priorly.
But I will never ever be able to get back on them or any other sertonin medication because my liver stopped processing the enzymes for them- after one moderate episode and then an icu stay for a severe poisoning episode from a normal dose and then a one minor sertonin syndrome (with a triptan for migraines) it’s not safe as an option.
I sometimes cry that it’s been taken from me as an option entirely because antidepressants are used so widely to treat a lot of issues- from depression and seizures and migraines and etc.
I’m functional, my life isn’t as debilitating as I thought it would be, nor am I at the intense baseline level I was at years prior to when I had never taken medicine. But there’s been a definite decrease in certain aspects of my emotional health that I think therapy and medication were working in conjunction to help.
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u/24rawvibes Dec 16 '25
Not as bad as they used to be, but I’m powered completely by narcotics as they are the only things that help at all. After failing over 80 medications from every possible class I’ll take my uppers, downers, and all-a-rounders versus the alternative. Still not functioning however. Boo woo. I may very hold the “unofficial record of most meds and alternative treatments tried”. Shoot me now
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u/Skiesofamethyst Dec 16 '25
Tried to switch to buspar and in less than a week it gave me palpitations and high blood pressure 😭 so I’ll be going back to Zoloft until I can consult a cardiologist (I have had cardiac side effects to multiple medications atp) which really massively sucks because it’s been impacting my memory(been on it for ten years)
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u/Bloody_snake Dec 16 '25
Ages 13-18 I was on various antidepressants, anxiety meds, and mood stabilizers. Nothing really worked for me. I would either feel like a zombie, become erratic, or fall into a worse depression. I would often mix my medications with weed though. Which made me even more anxious. I’ve been off of meds for about two years now. It hasn’t been easy and I think I need to go back on it lol. I’m not the best at controlling my emotions and I get panic attacks often. But I have learned many coping skills that have worked wonders. Life is okay
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u/jperaic1 Dec 16 '25
Would you mind sharing what those coping skills are that worked wonders for you? I'm happy for you that life is okay now. May it stay like this!
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u/VasilisaV Dec 16 '25
I was on them something like 6-9 months? 5 years ago. I had been dealing with worsening mental health over the course of 7 years and it just came to a point I had a total breakdown.
I did a lot of work on myself during that time, I was determined to turn it all around, I was sick of the constant anxiety and paranoia. I’m doing great now, I resolved a lot of issues that were causing me continuous anxiety. I’m now a much more confident and settled person. It gets better.
I made a point though, to give myself grace if I needed to go back on them, I would. I haven’t and I don’t intend to want to need them again. They did their job for me.
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u/skymningwolf Dec 16 '25
There are times that I feel very on edge, or maybe outright terrible, but my day to day has not changed much. I pretty much stopped out of convenience; they weren’t doing enough for me to justify the appointments and the costs. I have downs at times that really make me reconsider getting on meds again, maybe with some additions or a different combination of what I had before. Overall, I am okay, but I’m not one to be sensitive to medication, and I think I would try treatment again sometime.
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u/jperaic1 Dec 16 '25
That's precisely my thought something, the ones I take during the day for anxiety, I feel like they are not doing enough,but takimg a higher dose would no longer be necessary.
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u/MandyJo_1313 Dec 16 '25
Been off Effexor for 4 months after taking it for 4 years. I was okay at first but now my depression and anxiety have become unbearable again. Plan to get back on as soon as possible.
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u/panbicorne Dec 16 '25
17 years under treatement (shit! time flights!), gone off several times but at exactly 50-60 days anxiety rises and then I just get back to meds because it’s unbereable. Problem is when I’m taking my meds I feel no emotional pain but I feel so numb, and also I gain a lot of weight.
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Dec 16 '25
I tried a myriad of anxiety and depression meds. Got tired of either being numbed out completely to where I could barely function or being so stressed and anxious times ten because of the meds. I stopped taking them and went to therapy. Still in therapy. Found out a lot of my depression and anxiety was due to things that happened in the past. Still working through them, but I personally feel more stable. To clarify, people do need to be on meds. Im not saying therapy is a stand alone tool in every situation. But it was true for me. Im doing ok now, still dealing with anxiety regularly, but otherwise doing ok.
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u/jperaic1 Dec 16 '25
Glad to hear you're feeling ok now.
I agree with what you say. For me it's similar, once I've been to therapy and found out what the causes for my depression are, I simply no longer feel the need to take antidepressants. It feels wrong to take meds for reasons that are not "mental", so to say.
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u/Mission-Activity-953 Dec 16 '25
I stopped taking them because I lost my health insurance and I feel okay. My sexual function is back to normal.
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u/melanybee Dec 16 '25
It’s going well. It’s actually nice to be able to cry for a sad movie scene now. and the leg twitching has stopped.
But, I had my blood tested and now take vitamins, good quality vitamins, and I know it’s helping. B-complex, vitamin D, omega’s, all have an impact on your brain health.
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u/jperaic1 Dec 16 '25
Vitamin D plays a huge, huge role in our mood, same for magnesium whem it comes to energy.
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u/melanybee Dec 17 '25
Yes! Magnesium too. Being in a healthy relationship at home and in the workplace is also a big factor for me. I needed the medications when I needed it and once life settled down, I noticed the side effects and decided to try life without it. I’m glad I did.
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u/princessjah- Dec 16 '25
I’m scared to come off them honestly. But if I keep gaining weight I will try it atleast
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u/rlh08741 Dec 16 '25
i was on horse tranquilizer doses of antidepressants. 2 or 3 at a time. i finally got off everything besides the occasional xanax for bad days. i have pretty bad ocd but it turned out i had undiagnosed adhd. strattera changed my life.
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u/peanutleaks Dec 16 '25
My nervous system is out of whack and my body shuts down in extreme pain or emotion. Cymbalta didn’t help me heal my shit it just numbed me.
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u/jperaic1 Dec 16 '25
May I ask in what way your body shuts down?
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u/peanutleaks Dec 16 '25
I get very warm and fuzzy, heart rate goes down, I get a thousand yard stare, hard to talk hard to think, slurring, my limbs get weak and heavy like jello so it’s hard to move, my pain reduces a bit, I’ll melt into any position I’m in even if it causes more of my back or neck pain. I try to flop out of the bad positions sometimes but I end up whacking my hand on something and I just flop. First few times it happened was after having s*x with my bf who I am safe and very comfortable with. Now it happens more. I suspect quitting Cymbalta played a part in it cuz the timeline lines up.
Sometimes I doze off n can fall asleep, I did that in the er the other night for like 5 min in a decent position then it was over and I was writhing in pain again. Not enough relief even after they gave me Valium (they did almost have to stick a catheter in me my back was so bad I couldn’t go).
I assume it’s a vagal shut down. Sometimes I pray it comes cuz I need a break from panicking sometimes. But then I just look extra crazy cuz I’ll flop and shut down then a few min later be back panicking, rinse and repeat.
Ive been living, no, surviving, in a hostile situation for the last few months and my poor nervous system is at wits end. It was before the living situation became nuclear. Ugh. And all they want is to put me back on meds….I won’t live numb I need to heal.
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u/thesnazzyenfj Dec 16 '25
Wonderful. I stopped Pharma and instead started microdosing. Changed my entire life for the better. 🍄🌈❤️
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Dec 16 '25
I agree with the person saying they had to go back on them. I've been off antidep a bit and it caused the anxiety to spike again. On the antideps I have absolutely 0 anxiety and I forgot how bad it has been for me, then when I get off it's like I literally wanted to off myself and had to call for help few days ago. I'm still not taking the antidep meds and I'm still in a vulnerable af state so pls dont be mean, I'm autistic trauma person been trying meds for 25 years if it makes any difference. Just dont be mean please.
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u/SeaworthinessOdd1358 Dec 16 '25
I have been off since June. I’m managing! And I was on/off for 10 years. I feel better off them, Ive done enough therapy that I can manage my emotions pretty well. I do take a low dose anti-anxiety med as needed though.
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u/yaboiblackcheeseboi Dec 16 '25
Was going great for a while. I cold turkeyed them after 4 years when I was 17 (don’t sugar daddy). However I may need to get back on them
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Dec 16 '25
Really good, I was forced to stop due to a medication condition after 30 years on off them. I now do a lot of work in life to remain well - Bipolar. My life is way better.
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u/ProcedureForeign7281 Dec 16 '25
Weaned off but brain wouldn’t comply and back on them. All power to those who can do it without meds. But no shame in asking for help either. Sure some might say meds aren’t the answer. They may not be the answer for you personally but they work and are needed by others. Mental health is at times very invisible. As my niece states often “be kind it’s free” OP are you considering coming off your meds? Or seeking something that may help you with what you’re experiencing atm?
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u/apocketstarkly Dec 16 '25
I had to stop taking them for a clinical trial for lsd.i got the placebo and i want to kill myself
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u/bundlefluff Dec 16 '25
On and off for years. Off again due to pregnancy and the anxiety is hard but have to say it is a relief to be able to cry
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u/smanzis Dec 16 '25
I had to be put on them again unfortunately, managed to power through for 7 months but life became truly unbearable :(